Classics & Ancient History

In this course, Professor John Wilkins (University of Exeter) provides a provide introduction to the comedy of Plautus, with a special focus on two plays in particular: The Brothers Menaechmus and The Swaggering Soldier. After a brief introduction...

In this course, Dr Rosie Wyles (University of Kent) provides a close reading and analysis of Aristophanes' Acharnians, focusing in particular on the prescribed material for the OCR A-Level in Classical Greek. All passages are presented in the...

In this course, Dr Matthew Nicholls (University of Oxford) explores the reign of the fourth Roman emperor, Claudius. In the first module, we think about Claudius’ family background and the unlikeliness of his route to power. After that, in the...

In this course, Dr Regine May (University of Leeds) explores the story of Thelyphron in Apuleius’ Metamorphoses (or The Golden Ass). It will be particularly useful for those reading the ‘Sagae Thessalae’ set text for OCR Latin GCSE (J282). In the...

In this course, Dr Matthew Nicholls (University of Oxford) explores the reign of the third Roman emperor, Gaius, also known as Caligula. After a brief introductory module, we begin by thinking about the sources for Gaius’ short reign, his family...

In this course, Professor Llewelyn Morgan (University of Oxford) explores Book 6 of Virgil’s Aeneid. It will be particularly useful for those reading Book 6 of the Aeneid as their verse set text for OCR Latin GCSE (J282). In the first lecture, we...

In this course, Professor Christopher Whitton (University of Cambridge) explores the Boudican Revolt (60 or 61 AD). It will be particularly useful for those reading the ‘Inspiration for the fight’ (Boudica … finivit) set text for OCR Latin GCSE...

In this course, Professor Llewelyn Morgan (University of Oxford) explores the Echo and Narcissus episode from Ovid’s Metamorphoses. It will be particularly useful for those the ‘Echo and Narcissus’ set text for OCR Latin GCSE (J282). In the first...

In this course Professor Richard Seaford (University of Exeter) explores the social, cultural and philosophical influence of the invention of money and the widespread monetisation of Greek society in the mid- to late 6th century BC. In the first...

In this course Professor Christopher Whitton (University of Cambridge) explores Books 13-14 of Tacitus’ Annals, focusing in particular on Nero’s murder of his mother, Agrippina. In the first lecture we introduce Tacitus and the Annals in general,...

In this course, Professor Christopher Whitton (University of Cambridge) explores the Pullo and Vorenus episode from Caesar’s Gallic War. It will be particularly useful for those reading the ‘Bravery and strategy in battle’ set text for OCR Latin...

In this course Professor Chris Whitton (University of Cambridge) explores Book 12 of Tacitus’ Annals. In the first lecture, we provide an introduction to Tacitus’ Annals itself, as a work of history and literature. The following three modules each...

In this course Professor Llewelyn Morgan (University of Oxford) explores Juvenal’s Satires. In the first lecture we provide an introduction to Roman satire as a literary genre, including the contributions of Lucilius (2nd century BC), Horace (65-8...

In this course Professor Christopher Whitton (University of Cambridge) explores Pliny’s Letters. In the first lecture we introduce Pliny, his political career and his literary output, and think about the idea of letters of literature. After that,...